The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-06-16
Memorial Day in Springfield.

Once more the threshold of summer was laid
open. fresh and bright with flowers, and the
sheer of this fragrance was waited near and
far. The fresh rains had frightened every leaf
and blade of grass into the purc-t tints of iv-
ing green.
The day previous. noble hearted, whole
sOulcd comra,lc hai been tendcrly laid away to
rest in the beautiful Oak-Grove cemeterv bv
his friends who wore the blue. and the trailing
Grape on their swords was a sad reminder to
us all that the boys in blue are fallin" fast like
the ripened grain.
The sky Oh Monday was overcast and threat.
ening in the morning, but the fresh, damp air
was just the thing to preserve our beautiful
flowers.
In Grand Army Hall. where nearly hum
trcd women had lahorcd faithfully almost a
week, were arranged on long tables. two hum
drcd and sixty baskets, twined with evergreen
and filled with choice flowers. Every soldiers
grave, marked with the little ilag, would be
decorated with one of these. In addition to
these. We're four large wreathes of pinks and
tea roses for the monument in the ''Soldicr>'
Rest in the Springfield cemetery. There was
also beautiful shield of blue violets. and red
and white pnks to be placed at the base of the
monument in memory of the brave and chival-
rous General Logan, whose memory every sol
dicr loves and revcres.
For the beautiful and graceful soldiers mon
umcnt in court square was Il magnificent star.
of snow balls and Jac. roses. with the letters
G. A. r., across the centre in blue violetS also
sickle Of red and Write pinks. and fcstoons of
laurel for the shaft. At the base of the monll-
meht We're placed large stone vases to receive
the bouquets from the children of veterans. At
each corner of the monument were placed large
baskets containing annunciation lilies and smi-
lax, also large bouquets of calla lilies, iris and
SmiaX. These flowers We're all dedicated to
the unknown dead. who sleep in lonely graves
in the South.
Not for@etful of their own dead. who had
fallen by the way>i,c in the busy march of life,
the Woman>' Relief Corps had fashioned hca,l-
tiful and fragrant bouquets, tied with white
satin ribbon. for the deceased members of the
corps. Also Il beautiful rustic basket for each.
filled with wild flowers.
Memory carried some Of The ladies back to
the dark ami fearful days Of 81. when Mrs. Ann
;. Mcrrick, of Springfield, left her beautiful
home of luxury and ease to become an army
nurse for the old 10th Massachusetts regiment.
In loving memory of what She did for the
''hoy>" Il beautiful basket of pure white flow
er- and smaN was prepared for her grave. the
handle tied with white satin ribbon also beali-
Of Il NIL hal li,,tr
1t was my lot to carry the floral offerings to
be laid there. and in company with another
lady, who bore Il beautiful basket of annuncia-
tion lilies for the grave of Col. Peabody. who
was Killed at Shiloh. We wcndad our way to the
beautiful city of the dead. We deposited our
offerings on the grave Of Mrs. Mcrrck, and then
took "rr way over the i'll, to Col. Peabody's
grave. After placing the special Offering on his
last resting place. W. sat down upon the turf,
for, 10, around the hili with slow. and mca>ur-
ed football came the squad Of Grand Army
boys to place their basket there. hal never
before seen the simple ceremony performed and
it struck me rs impressive in its simplicity. As
the Vct,ra with uncovered heads. reNercntlv
laid their floral offering upon the grave of their
tOllifatlS. lilt baG. some distance bclbN.
hear the soldiers Rest, began playing NEARER
NY God to Thee" The beautiful notes. snftcn-
ed into the sweetest strains by the distance.
never sounded grand and solemn is then.
Tie cool breeze stirred the dark green foliage.
The fountains softly >paShed their crystal
drops into their stone beds, and tn" pure. sweet
notes of the robins mingled family with the far
off music.
Who could doubt the reality OF the heavenly
reward for those who died for their country.
at such time and place. SErely, when "God
shall make up his Jewels not one hero'~ face
shall be missing from the shining Gown,
The last sweet strains of
'.\ngrS to brrkon Hr.
Nearer my God 10 thee"
died away on the air. the veterans a@air iunncli
their hats. and made away to alorn ether
graves, and left the sweet flowers, cmblcmatir
OF the love they bore their fallen brothers, to
fade in dying perfume ON the low green tents.
IhilS ended lit lr rb. ode of N,uinria DIV